Remote control mirror



' Feb. 23,. 1965 w. B. SHRODE REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8. 1961 INVENTOR.

ZZZ K m) 13. ii/w? ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965 r w. B. SHRODE 7 3,170,334

REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY sarotation oftheactuator. a

and other objectsfare accomplished with a f i port about the-twopivot axes.

v illustrating'the operating components;'

i 3,170,334 REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR Wilford B. V General Motors (lorporation, Detroit, Mich, a corpo ration of Delaware Filed Nov. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 151,101 Claims. (CI. 74-96),

This invention relates to a-rear view mirror that may be mounted exteriorly on an automotive vehicle andis particularly concerned with the mechanism for remotely controlling the position of the mirror.

Oneobject of the. present invention islto provide an Patented Feb. 23, 1965 "ice As best seen in FIGURE 2, the mirror'structure 2 cont- Shrode, Huntington Woods, Mich, jassignor to adjustable mirror having operating mechanism that is both reliable and of durable construction and 'provides a positive drive to be transmitted to the-mirrorfrom a remote- 1y located actuator.

Another object of this invention isfto provide-a mirror: that isadjustable about mutua'lly perpendicular. first and second pivot axes withthe adjustment being. made by a single cable connected to aremotely located actu'ator'associated with mechanism,that provides'a 'pivotal move- .6 I

ator is rotatedj-and a pivotal movement 'aboutthe second axis when theactuator is shifted axially followed by The above u mirror structure having a mounting-bracket universally memberto a position that causes 'an expansion of the control tube with theresult that the cam is locked to the- :tube and both rotate as a unit thereby causing an additional adjustment of the mirror assembly abouta second 1 i ,1 .pivot axis. V A remotely located actuator "includes a ro-- "I tatableshiftable. knob that" is connected totlie T merri Lber through a cable andis adapted to direct drive to the former to obtain selective adjustment of the" mirrorsup-f A more complete understanding of my invention can be derived from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with thedrawingain whichif 1 a V v FIGURE 1 shows the subject mirror structure inc'o'r- V porated with a vehicle; 1

FIGURE 2is an enlarged. vertical sectional'view' of the rear View mirror parallel to theflength of the vehicle FIGURE 3 f a section takenon lines 3 3 of FIG- FIGURE 4 is an fenlarged view partly in section" taken on lines 44 of FIGURE'Z; j

FIGURE 5 illustrates the mechanism of FIGURE 4 with parts thereof repositioned, and i I FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a cam and yoke member incorporated with the subject invention;

.-- .Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG-P 7 IUR E 1, a mirrorjstructure 2 is 'shownfexteriorly mount 'edo'n ayehicle door 4 with an actuator; 6 secured inside Y ofthe vehicle on the doorpanelgand operativelylcon V nected with the mirror 2 through a cable or'Bowdenwire I 3, comprising the-"usual vsheath and 'wi'recomponents.

ment of the support about the first axis when" theactupivotally supporting 'a mirror support that' 'is connected through an eccentriccamto a threaded control tube. A T membercoactscwith the control tube for rotating the: latter so as to cause-a movement of the cam along the control tube and thereby position the mirror 'about a first v pivot axis. Means are alsoprovided vfor shifting the T arm 46.Within the control tube .slot will hereinafter be explained;

prises a mounting bracket 10;fastened to the door54 and,

includes a' mirror support 12' secured to one endof a yoke member 14.' The bracket 10 includes an integrallyformed collar 34 that is rectangular in cross-section and v has a spherical bearing surface 33 formed therein for universally supporting a ball portion 16 of the yoke memher about mutually perpendicular pivot axes. As shown in FIGURE 6, the yoke member includes a fork'18 having a pair of pivot points 20 and 22 projecting inwardly from the opposite arms of the fork and adapted to be 7 V accommodated by an annularslot 24 formed in a circular cam member 26. A control tube 28 has the upper por j .tion 29 thereof externally threaded and passes throughan ecce'ntrically disposed threaded, bore 301formed in the cam member; The controltube is rotatably supported in g the bracket about a vertical axis by a plug 32 at one end and a block 35 at the other end. A stop 36 projects from the periphery of the cam to limit rotation thereof about theibore. axis by engaging suitably notched portions 38 formedon the yoke 14. The upper portion of the control tubej28 is split into two adjoining portions along the I .1

longitudinal axis of the tubeby a slot having an enlarged opening lfi connecting with a narrower opening 42. A

T shapeddrive shaft 44 is located in the control tube 28 and includes a cross arm46'forming a key that slidably.

supports one end of theshaft 44.withinthe "slot opening 40, with the other end of the shaft connected to a wire \Oreabie 48:. 'A coil spring 50 surrounds the upper portion: of the control tube with one end seated on the upper surface of the cam member 26 and the other end biasing a washer 52, which in turn, supports thecross arm 46 of the drive shaft. The free end of the wire 48 is connected to an actuator knob 54 that'serves to rotate the drive shaft 44 and,in;addition,provides for shifting the cross for purposes which :During operation, rotationflof the actuator knobs-4 results in a corresponding rotation of the drive shaft 44 and, due to the connection between the cross arm 46 and the tube slot 40, a similar rotation of'the' control .tube'ZS occurs. As the control tube 28 rotates; the cam 26 moves along the control tube in an upward or: downward direction depending upon thesdirection of rotation of the tube, and this movement pivotsthe mirror support 12 up' or "1 down about a horizontal pivot axis through thepivot points 26 and 22 on the yoke 14. r The cam moves along the shaft because of the spring'50 exerting atrictional force supplied by the spring is unable to prevent rotation restraining force on the uppersurface of the cam so as to prevent its rotation. In the event that the restraining of the cam because of lack of lubricant or'other' reason,

positive restraining means such as-the stop 3 6 formed tinual' rotation of the tube'would thread the with the cam would limit rotation of caml upon engaging theiportion 38 of the yoke member. @Thereafter, con- I cam along the former for attaining the desired adjustment. I

To turn the mirror supportsidewise about a vertical; plVOl'ffiXlS, the'actuatorknob5'4 is first pulled toward the; operator and .then rotated. "The pullfdraws {the wire 481,.

' and'shifts the associated drive shaft 44 and washer52' in a downward position against the biasof the 'sprin'g '5 I showniri FIGURE 5, thereby we'dging thecross arm 46 into the narrowslot opening 42.: This movement serves- 'to'separatethe fspl it portions' of the con'trol tubeZS-and cause a wedging action between the latter and the threaded bore 36 in the cam 26 with the result that the cam is fixed to the control tube 23 for unitary movement therewith. Thereupon, rotation of the actuator knob 54 causes rotation of both the control tube 28 and the cam 26, and because the cam is eccentrically mounted on the control tube, serves to move the yoke 14 to turn the mirror support sidewisex Upon release of the actuator knob, the spring 59 returns the shaft 44 to its normal position, as shown in FIGURE 4.

Having disclosed a preferred embodiment for the purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

, What is claimed is:

for locking said second means to the third means in all positions of said second means so that rotation of said third means moves the second means: transv rse to the second axis to pivot said support about the second pivot axis..

2. A remotely controlled mirror mechanism compris-v ing, a mounting bracket, a mirror support, first means mounting said mirror support and connected to said mounting bracket for movement about mutually-perpendicular first and secondpivot axes, an eccentric cam for coacting with said means for pivoting said means and mirror support about said first axis, a tubethreaded into the eccentric cam, means normally restraining movement of the cam so that relative rotation of said tube moves said cam along said tube to pivot the mirror support about said first pivot axis, and drive means for rotating the tube, means formed onthe drive means for rotationally locldng said tube to said cam so that rotation of said tube turnsthe cam to pivot the mirror-support about the second pivot axis.

3. A remotely controlled mirror mechanism comprising amounting braeketQa mirror support, first means mounting said mirror support and connected to said mounting bracket for movement about mutually perpendicular first and second pivot axes, an eccentric cam supporting said first means, a control tube connected to said eccentric cam, means. permitting rotative movement of said tube-relative to the cam so as to cause pivotal movement of said mirror support about said first pivotaxis, drive means connected to said tube, means including said drive means for locking said cam to said control tube so that rotative movement of the tube turns said cam to.

' and second pivot axes, a mirror support rigidly connected to one end of saidrnember, a cam operatively connected With the other end'of said member, a rotatable control member threadably supporting said cam, a drive shaft supported by said control member, an actuator connected to said drive shaft for shifting the latter between a first and second position, means engaging said cam and restraining movement thereof when said drive shaft is in one of said positions so that rotation of the drive shaft causes movement of the cam along the control member to pivot said mirror support about said first axis, saiddrive'shaft act- I ing to lock said cam to said control member when in the second of said positions so that rotation of said driveshaft causes the mirror support to pivot about the secondaxis.

6. A remotely controlled mirror mechanism, comprising a rriountingbracket, a yoke member supported by said mounting bracket for movement about mutually perpendicular first and second'pivot axes, a mirror support rigid-5 ly connected to one end of saidyoke member, an eccentric cam operatively connected with the other end of said yoke member, a rotatable control tube threadably supporting said cam, a drive shaft supported by said control tube, an actuator connected to said drive shaft for shifting the latter between'a first and second position, means engaging said cam and restrainingmovement thereof when said drive shaft is in one of said positions so that rotation of 5 the drive'shaftcauses movement of the cam along the tube to pivot said mirrorsupport about said first axis, said drive" shaft acting to lock said cam to said control tube when in the second of said positions so that rotation of'said drive. shaft causes the mirror. second axis. t

7. A remotely controlled mirror mechanism, comprise ing a mounting bracket, a spherical bearing surface formed in said mounting bracket, a yoke member having a ball portion for seating in said bearing surface so as to i provide for movement of said yoke member about mutually perpendicular first and second pivot axes, a mirror support rigidly connected to one end of said yoke memher, an eccentric cam operatively connected with the other end of said yoke member, a rotatable control tube threadably supporting said cam, a drive shaft having a cross arm, a slot in said control tube supporting said cross arm,

an actuatorconnected to said drive shaft for shifting thelatter so that said cross arm has afirst and second position in saidslot, springimeans biasing said cam and restraining movement thereof when said cross arm is in one of said positions so that rotation of the drive shaft causes movementof the cam along the tube to pivot'said pivot axes, a mirror support rigidly connected to one end when said drive shaft isin one of said positions so that rotation of the drive shaft causes movement of the second member along the 'control member to pivot said'mirror support about said first axis, said drive shaft acting to actuator connected to said drive shaft for shifting the" latter between afirst and second position, means engaging .said second member and restraining movement thereof mirror support about said first axis, said cross arm acting to lock said cam to said control tube when in the second of said positions so that rotation of said drive shaft causes the mirror support to pivot about th second axis.

8. A remotely controlled mirror mechanism, comprising a mounting bracket, a spherical bearing surface formed in said mounting bracket, ayoke member having a ball portion for seating in said bearing surface so as to provide for movement of said yoke member about mutuallyperpendicular first and'seeond pivot axes, a mirror supportrigidly connected to one end of said yoke member, a cam operatively connected with the other end of said yoke member, a rotatable control tube threadably supporting said earn, a drive shaft having a key portion, A a slot in said control tube supporting said key portion, Y

an actuator connected to said drive shaft for shifting the latter so that said key portion has a first and second position in said slot, spring means biasing'said cam and restraining movement thereof when said key portion is in support to pivot about the one of said positions so that rotation of the drive shaft causes movement of the cam along the tube to pivot said mirror support about said first axis, said key portion acting to lock said cam to said control tube when in the second of said positions sothat rotation of said drive shaft causes the mirror support to pivot about the second axis.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein said slot is defined by converging walls forming an enlarged opening connecting with a narrower opening, said key portion having a thickness approximating said enlarged opening and is disposed in the enlarged opening in one of said positions of said drive shaft, said key portion being disposed in the narrower opening to expand and bind the control tube to the cam in the other of said positions of said drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,491,937 Walker Apr. 29, 1924 1,718,421 Koca et a1. June 25, 1929 2,319,041 Crouse May 11, 1943 2,614,437 Meggitt Oct. 21, 1952 2,817,005 Cameron Dec. 17, 1957 2,919,599 Milton et a1. 'Jan. 5, 1960 3,000,263

Milton et a1. -1 Sept. 19, 1961 

1. A REMOTE CONTROL MIRROR MECHANISM COMPRISING, A MOUNTING BRACKET, A MIRROR SUPPORT, FIRST MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MIRROR SUPPORT AND CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING BRACKET FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR FIRST AND SECOND AXES, SECOND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST MEANS AND MIRROR SUPPORT ABOUT SAID AXES, THIRD MEANS THREADED INTO THE SECOND MEANS, FOURTH MEANS NORMALLY RESTRAINING MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND MEANS SO THAT RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID THIRD MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND MEANS MOVES SAID SECOND MEANS ALONG SAID THIRD MEANS TO PIVOT THE MIRROR SUPPORT ABOUT SAID FIRST PIVOT AXIS, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID SECOND MEANS TO THE THIRD MEANS IN ALL POSITIONS OF SAID SECOND MEANS SO THAT ROTATION OF SAID THIRD MEANS MOVES THE SECOND MEANS TRANSVERSE TO THE 